Driving mechanism for motor-vehicles.



DIE INITIC. COOKINGHAIVI @L I. H. HERTNER.

DRIVING MECHANISNI FOR MOTOR VEHICLES.

APPLICATION I 'ILED IAN. II, I92.

Patented Feb. 29, 1916.

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@mam/wmp@ DE WITT C. COOKINGHAIVI & I. HI HERTNER. L

DRIVING IVIECHANISIVI FOR MOTOR VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. II, 1912.

Patented Feb. 29,1916.

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DE WITT C. OOoKINGH-AM AND JOHN H. HERTNER, or CLEVELAND, OHIO, AssIGNoEs To THE BAKER H & L COMPANY, OE CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION or OHIO.

DRIVING MECHANISM. FOR MOTOR-VEHICLES.

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`To all whom/t may concern:

Be it 'known that we, DE.r VITT C. Coon- INGHAII and JOHN H. HERTNER, citizens of the United States,and residents of Cleveland,county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio,

, inventions.

The present improvements relate more particularly to the construction of the rear vaxles of automobiles or like motor driven vehicles, the object being to provide such a mountingy for the differential gearing, which forms the characteristic feature 1n modern automobile rear axles, that .various adjustments may be readily and conveniently` made,A both for preliminarily bringing the gears into proper mesh, and for taking up such wear as may subsequently occur.

A further object is to provide an improved connection between the axle sections and the differential gears, wherewith such sections are respectively connected at their. inner To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention, then, consists of the means hereinafter fully described "f and particularly pointed out in the claims.

The annexedy .drawings and the following description set forth in detail certain mechanism embodying the `invention, such disclosed means constituting, however, but one of the various mechanical forms in which the principle of the invention may be used. -Insaid annexed drawings: Figure 1 is a horizontal section of a rear axle, constructed -in accordance with our present improved design; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the differential mechanism, showing 1t bodily removed from the rest of the axle structure;

Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section of the axle taken on the plane indicated by the line 3 3, Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a side elevational-view -of the inner end4 of one of the shaft sections;

' gears of the differential mechanism; Fig. 8-

F ig. 5 is an end elevationof the same; Fig. 6 1s a transverse section of such shaft section taken onl the line 6 6, Fig. 4; Fig. 7

is an elevational view of one of the. driven Specification of Letters Patent.

raten/tea Het. 2a, 1ero.

Application led January 11, 1912. Serial No. 670,597. i

at their inner ends in lateral tubular extensions 3 of the central casing, and at their outer ends are provided with external bear- )ings d upon which are supported the vehicle Only the hub 5 of one such wheel.

wheels.

is shown in Fig. 1, the several details of construction of such hub appearing in the figure being of no present interest. The inwardly directed opening in the central Casing 1 is normally closed, in the assembled condition of the axle, by a shell-likemember 6 that forms the support for the differential mechanism, as well as for the driving spindle 7. Such spindle is journaled 'in suitable bearings provided in a tubular extension 8 of said shell that is disposed at right angles to the axis of the axle proper. Such bearings comprise two sets of bearing rings 9, 9 and 10, 10, between which are interposed balls, as usual, the rear set of rings 9, 9, being slidably mounted in the bore of the tubular extension 8 and being held'in place on the spindle by the driving pinion 11 that is mounted on the rear end ofthe latter. The other set of bearing rings 10, 10, is carried in an adjusting nut 12 that is threaded in the aforesaid tubular extension 8 so that by rotation thereof, such rings are moved longitudinally of the extension. xAssociated with the bearing rings 10, 10, are two other rings 13, 13 which, with interposed balls, form an end thrust bearing for the spindle 7being held in place within the adjusting nut 12 by means of' a retaining nut 14, which closes the --outer end of said adjusting nut. A fastener 15, pivoted to the extension S and engaging notches in the periphery ofthe adjusting nut, serves to secure the latter in whatever position it may be left (see Fig. 3).

The'inn'er face of the differential-supporting member 6 is provided with brackets 16 (see Figs. 1 and Q) formed with semi-cir- "I cular bearing'sl'in which the vdifferential able lin the bearing providedby' the crrel spending. bracket and cap, while'the other housingor vdrum 17-is secured' by means 'of caps 18 formed with semi-circular Abearings corresponding with@ .those in the brackets.

l, The diierential drum, the general construetion cfr-Which is best exhibited `in aforesaid Fig. 2, carries two-sets ofbearing rings 19, 1 9 and 20, 20, with interposed-balls, one setset of'rings 20 is supported, not directlyin the bearingv provided by `the adjacent bracket and cap, butin an adjusting nut 21 j; that is threaded' in'jthe bearing thus'provided, so as tobe capable of variously pothe aid ofa' retaining nut 24.* The adjustl' ing nut 2 1 -ls-adapted to -be secured against `s`i,tioning said bearing rings longitudinally.

o'ft'he' axis of' the shaft'sections22 This differential-adjusting nut 21, not onlyfsup' ports thefbearingv rings 20 just referred to,- beeneXperienced in securing a tightfittin'g; which'v are designed to'. talre. up. 'lateral' thrusts,fbuti also end-thrust. bearings-,- .as

shown in Figfl, the rings 23,23 and the interposed balls 'forv such endthrust bearings, as well as rings 20,120, being held in placeby rotation,l when the bearingsha've been prop -I erly positioned, by a` fastener 25 pivoted to theadjacentcap 18 andadaptedto enga-geA any. one vof a series of n'otches in said ad- .justing nut (see Fig. 2).` The largebevel vgear 26 of the differential is secured to -a flange 2 7 on the dierentialhousingor' drum 18, the mounting of which hasfjustbeen de scribed, 'sofas to lmesh withithe drivingpim.

I ion .11 on the spindle 7 and it -is to secure' a proper engagement between such `g`ear"and pinion that the adjustment ofthe drum longitudinally of thev axle-sections, as al's'o the adjustment of the driving spindle with its pinion longitudinally of "its own aX-is', 'are provided.'

' v It will beyobservedthat, by the constructionfof the adjusting nuts' 12 `and 21 provided for effecting these respective adjustments, the latter may be made 'entirely'from one end of the diferentia-ldrum and the drivingA spindle, respectively. In other Words, the bearing rings at the'left end of 'the drum, as shown in Figgl, and at the inner end ofthedriving spindle are"carried with the drum or spindle, as the case may be,

'when either of the latteris moved longitudinally byrotation of the corresponding ad` justing nut., There is accordingly no 4neces-- sity for loosening the rings. at one end of the member to-be adjusted, and then taking up 'the rings at theother end, with the'. further necessity. of making severall trials, before a correct adjustment is-secured and then hav ing remain' the possibility of 'bin-ding the ball bearings; for, in the present construe'- U. S.. Letters' Patent' No.

' tially thesame diameterfa's he axle ends tion, the latter are carried with thev l other tha-nas to the mannerl in which the-in ner ends ofl the shaft-sections 22 are secured in the hubs of the differential gears .28. The

latter` are shown as beveled gears, beingv 'driven by beveled differential pinions129 carriedon a spider 30, the detailed construction-,of which forms the subject m'atterof '1,029,793 issued to us JunelS, 1912. We are aware that it'has been usual heretofore to provide such a connection between the inner-ends of the. shaft -sections and the gears just referredto, that the shaft sections-f I may bewithdrawn 4 endwise without disturbing the 4gear'fs or the 'differential mechanism, butmoreor less difficulty has always .and noiseless ,connection at this po'int ancl v yet leave such connection with the flexibility which it must 'necessarily t have 'in order to provide 'forftle' distortion to whichfthe. axle I v inglyA provided `with a .plurality '(six as shown) of-longitudinally.,exterfding, radi'-v ally projectinglugs or-:keys 31",'.tlie sides of 'I said lugs being parallel with@.each4 other,

-and the spaces -32 loetween'v the samebeing "cutout, as shown in theend elevational 'andA 'sectional views of Figs. '5 and, below the normal cylindrical surface of the end "of the:f ''f tending recesses`f`33 'corresponding' 1n number and disposition to the lugs'or keys '3l-on- The boreswf the hubs'othe-twodifferential gears28- fare madefoffsubstan# the axle ends, such recesses having similar 'straight sides iiatb'ottoms {See Figs..

Tand

From the 'foregoing described construe I tion of the l axle-sec tions` and differential gears, it- 'will beseen'that only the annular portionfif'. each axle end marked 38 in Figs.

4 andqjis' actually journaled in the corresponding gear; Athat is, onlythis'portion has a bearing Contact about its entire peripheryv with the bore inl the-.gear hub. )The longi-- tudinal extent,3 or,the width of the annular 'bearing portion of the axle' is relatively small, so thatit isjpossible 'for-the shaft. or 'axleisection 't o` V rock v slightly without any evidence of binding; in fact a *result subi .'s'tantially-the samev as v though r.the bearing surface were of tonic form is obtained while still leaving asulicient area of Contact to'A @permit a ilm'of oilfto4 .be "maintained between the bearing surfaces, is highly de sirable. 1

The lugs 31 and recesses 33, it will be observed, have only a lateral engagement with each other (21' e. in a rotatable direction), both such recesses'33 and those (32) between the aforesaidl lugs-being deep enough not vto interfere with the rocking, or transversely oscillatory, movement of the axle sections previously referred to. There may be, and preferably is, allowed a certain amount of play between these lugs and recesses in such rotative direction as well, since no noticeable noise or rattle arises from this source and as much freedom as possible 1s for other reasons desired.

IVhen the parts are in their completely assembled condition, the rearwardly directed opening in the central enlarged portion 1 of the axle housing is closed by a cover 35 that is secured, by means of set bolts 36, to the brackets that project fromthe differential supporting member, or rather to the caps lSthat serve to secure the differential mechanism to said supporting member.

The modification illustrated in Figs. 9 and 10` relates to the manner in which adjustingnut 2l for shifting the differential drum 17 longitudinally of its axis, is threaded in the adjacent bracket 16 and cap 18. construction shown Yin Fig. 1, both the bracket and the cap are interiorly threaded, l

but this makes it necessary that thel cap should be very carefully fitted onto'the supporting member, else the threads willnot correspond. Even where they are cut with the parts in question assembled, they are apt to get slightly out of alinement after the cap.

I bracket.

It is only necessary to briefly review the foregoing description in order to make clear the mode of operation and .ilse of .the one improved construction of axle. The axle sections, itwill be obvious, can be removed endwise from the axle housing by taking off the wheels that serve to support their outer ends, said sections being supported entirely clear of the axle casing. When it is simply desired to examine the interior of the central, or differential casing, this may be done with, or without, thel axle sections being removed, by detaching the rear cover plate 35. The differential mechanism is 'thus exposed to view and may not only be lubricated but the 'differential drum 17 may be adjusted longitudinally of the axis of the In the driving s'pindle 7 without removing any portion ofthe housing, by simply rotating the adjusting nut 14.

When it is desired. to entirely remove the differential mechanismA from its housing, lthis is done by detaching the forward differential-supporting member 6 from said housing, whereupon not only such mechanism, but alsothe driving spindle, is detached from the rest of the rear axle casing, as illustrated in the perspective view forming Fig. :2 ofthe drawings. It is, of course,

necessary to withdraw the axle sections be- I fore the parts just referred to can be thus removed. Obviously, the adjustment of the differential drum and of the driving spindle with its pinion can be attended to, as for example, in the course of assembling the axle or after repairing the differential, with the drum attached to said differential supr' porting member', just as shown in Fig. 2 just referred to. It then remains simply to attach said member tothe differential housing and slip in the axle sections, to complete the assembling, no further adjustment being necessary after the supporting member has been secured in place. The ease and simplicity of adjustmentof the differential drum, involving simply the adjustment of a single adjusting nut', whereby the bearings at bot-h ends of the drum vare simultaneously shifted, does not require any further comment, and the superiority ofthe joint between the differential gears and the axle sections, whereby a loose fit in a. rotative direction is secured and the axle sections left free to oscillate transversely of' the axis of the gears, while still journaling' said axle sections sufficiently tight to elimivnate noise, should be evident.

Other modes of applying the principle of our invention may be employed instead of the one "explained, change being made as regards the mechanism herein disclosed, provided the means stated by any of the following claims or the` equivalent of such stated means be employed,

IVe therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as our invention- 1. In mechanism of the character described, the combination ofv ai casing open on opposite sides Aandhaving two'laterally extending tubes; detachable members for closing such openings in said casing, respectively; a driving pinion and differential mechanism carried by one of said members and removable from said casing along with said member; and two axle-sections Jdisposed in said tubes and detachably connected at their inner ends with said differential mechanism.

2. In mechanism of the character described, the combination o f-a casing open on oppositeV sides and having two laterally extending tubes; detachable members for lio 'V so 'closingsuch openings in said casing, respectively;.:' a ldriving pinion and diiferential "mechamsm Vcarried by one 'of said mem- `-bers, said driving pinion and differentialv ,mechanism being independently adjustable' d llongitudinally of their respective axes and being" removable from said casing along with said member; and tWo 'axle-sections dlsposed lin said tubes and detachably clin nectedat their inner` ndswith said diii'erentialf'mechanism. 'v

tively a driving spindle ournaled in one of said members at right-angles to the lin'e of' said' tubes, said spindle being adjustable longitudinally of its axis; a bevel pinion onv the inner end of' said-spindle;a drumse` curedv to the' same'member ,in which said driving spindle isjournaled so as to be ro' -tatable vabout an axis alined with said tubes, lsaid .drum bein adjustable: longitudinally 'o'f its axis;di'- erential mechanism carried by 'said drum', said mechanism including a 'bevel gear adapted to mesh With said bevel pinion; 'andtwo axle-.sections disposed in said tube's and 'detachably connected at their inner ends'ivith said differential mechanism.'

'4.1m mechanismof the'I character 'de-v scribed, the' combination of afcasing ,open on opposite sides and havingltwo laterally extending tubes; detachable -members for .closing such openings vin said casing, re'-` spectively; a driving spindle journaled in one of said' members at right-,angles to the li'ne'of said tubes, said spindlegbeing adjustableg'longitudinally ofits-axis; .means at the` outer end 'of said 'spindle adaptedv thus to adjust the same; a beveled 'pinion on the 'innerend of'saidspindle; a drum secured to the salme I member in which saidL drivingr '45 spindle isv journaled so as to?v be rotatable ,about vanqax'is alined WithA said tubes, said drum being adjustable longitudinally of its axis';g'diierential mechanism carried by said 'to adjust thesame; and twojaXle-sections..

disposed in said tubes and detachably 'connected at-v` their inner yends With-said differf 5 5 drum', sa'idA mechanism including a bevel gear adapted lto mesh with said bevel pinion; means atene end of said' drum adapted ential mechanism.l

,In mechanism ofthe character'described,- the combination of.. a casing open on' opposite' sides and havingv two laterally lextending tubes; detachable members for closing such openings in said casing, re

, spectively; a driving spindle -journaled in one', of saidl members at 'rightfangles to the 'line of said tubes; a bevel pinionpn the inner end of said spindle; ball-bearmgs at the inner and outer ends of said spindle; 4an

adjusting nut 'in said member carrying the bearing at the. outer end' of said spindle,

' the bearing at the inner end of theA 'spi-:idle

beingcarnied 'along with' the latter;.a drum rotatablysecured to the-same member about' said drum; and twoaxle-sections disposed in said tubes and detachably connected at their inner ends With said differential mechanism. f

6, In mechanism, of the character 'described, the combination of a casing open on opposite sides and having tvvo'laterally extending tubes; detachablevmembers for clos-` ing such openings' in saidcasing, respectively; a -driving -spindle journaled ,in onev -of said membersat right-angles to the line Aof said tubes; a bevel pinion n the'inner end of said spindle; ball-bearings at the in an axis alined Wlth sald tubes, sald `drum being adapted to be driven by said bevel pinion; differential mechanism carriedby.

nerl and outerends of said spindle; an 'ad`l bearing at the outer end ofsaid spindle,'the bearingat the inner end ofthe spindle being carried along With the latter; a drum detachably, rotatably secured to the same-mem- `her about an axis alined with' said tubes,

vsaid drum being adjustable longitudinally of its axis; differential 'mechanism carried by said drum, 'said-mechanism, including a -justing nut in said member carrying the bevel. gear adapted vto meslilwith said bevel I pinion; 'and two axle-sections disposedv in saidgtubes andv detachably connected at' their inner ends with said diierential mechanism.

' '7'. In mechanism' of the character des scribed, the combination of a casingopen 'on .A i opposite sides and havingtwolaterally; ex-

tively; a driving spindle journaled in one' of said. members at right-angles tothe lme of said tubes; a `bevel pinion on the inner 'end tendingV tubes; detachable membersfor clos-- .ing such openings in saidcasing, `respec 105 of said spindle'fvball-bearings at the inner and outer 'ends of said spindle; an adjusting-v nut vin said member' carrying the bearings at the'outer end of said spindle,the bearlngs 'at the `inner end of the spindle being carried along 'With the latter; a' drum detachably, rotatably secured to the same member about an 'axis aline'd'with'said tubes; ,differential mechanism carried 'by saidv drum, .said

mechanism including 'a bevel gear' adapted to mesh with said bevel pinion; ball-bearings at the 'respective endsof said drum; an ad justingnut in said member carrying the bearing at one en'd of said drum, the bearing at the other end thereof being carried along- With the drum; and 'two axle-sections disposed in said tubes and detachably connected 'at their inner ends with .said differential mechanism.`

' `8. In' mechanism of' thev characterfdescribed, the combination of a casing open-on oppositesides and having two laterally ex' tending tubes; detachable members for clos; ing such openings in said casing, respectively; a driving spindle'journaled in one r inner ends with said differential mechanism.

9. In mechanism of the character de-` scribed, the combination of a casing open on oppositev sides and having two laterally extending tubes; detachable members for closing such openings in said casing, respectively; a driving spindle journaled in one of said members at right-angles to the line of said tubes; a bevel pinion on the inner end of said spindle; a drum detachably, ro-

tatably secured to the samemember about anA axis alined with said tubes; differential mechanisml carried 'by said drum, said mechanism including a bevel gear adapted to mesh with said bevel pinion; ball bearings at the respective 'ends of said drum; an ad.- justing nut in said member carrying the bearing 'at one end of said drum, the bearing at the other end thereof being carried along' f two laterally extending tubes; a driving spindle in one side of said casing at rightangles to the line of said tubes; a bevel pinion on. the inner end of said spindle; a drum rotatably securedrto said casing about an axis alined with said tubes, said drum being adjustable longitudinally of its axis; differential mechanism carried by said drum, said mechanism including a bevel .gear adapted to mesh with said bevel pinion;

means at one end of said drum adapted to adjust the samein either direction 'as desired; and two axle-sections disposed in said tubes and connected at their inner ends with said differential mechanism.

11. In mechanism of the character described, the combination of a casing having two laterally extending tu` es; a driving spindle in one side of said casing at right angles to the line of said tubes; a bevel pinion on the inner end of said spindle; a drum detachably, rotatably secured to said casing about an axis alined with said tubes; differential mechanism carried by said drum, said `mechanism` including a bevel .gear

adapted to mesh with said bevel pinion; ball bearings at the respective ends of said drum; an adjusting nut in said member carrying the bearing at lone end of said drum, the bearing at the other end thereof being carried along with the drum; and two axle-sections disposed in said tubes and detachably connected at their inner ends with said differential mechanism.

12. In mechanism of the character de scribed, t-lie combination of a casing having two laterally extending tubes; a driving spindle in one side of said casing at rightangles-to the line of said tubes; a bevel pinion on the inner end of said spindle; inwardly projecting brackets in said casing formed with semi-circular bearings; caps for said brackets formed with complementary semi-circular bearings; a drum rotatably secured to said brackets by said caps; differential mechanism carried by said drum, said mechanism including abevel gear adapted to mesh With said bevel pinion; ball bearings at the respective ends of said drum; an adjusting nut threaded in the bearing formed by one bracket and cap and carrying the ball bearing on the corresponding end of the drum, the ball bearing onthe other end of said drum being carried by the drum, and slidably held by the corresponding bracket and cap; and twoaxle-sections disposed in said tubesand detachably connected at their inner ends with said differential mechanism.

13. In mechanism of the character described, the combination of a casing having two laterally extending tubes; a` driving spindle-in one side of said casing at rightangles to the 'line of said tubes; a bevel pinion on the inner end lof said spindle;

inwardly projecting brackets in said casing formed with semi-circular bearings; caps for said brackets formed with complementary semi-circular bearings; a drum rotatably secured to said brackets by said caps; differential mechanism carried by said drum, said mechanism including a bevel gear adapted to mesh with said bevel pinion; ball bearings at therespective ends of said drum; an adjusting nut threaded in the semi-circular bearing in one bracket, the complementary cap-bearing being smooth,

said nut carrying the ball bearing on the ing carried by the drum and slidably held by the corresponding bracket and cap; and two axle-sections disposed in said tubes and detachably connected at their inner ends with said differential mechanism.

14. In mechanism of the class described, the combination of a casing having two laterally extending tubes; a driving spindle in one side of said casing at rightangles to the line of said tubes, said spindle being adjustable longitudinally of its lmesh with saidl bevel'rpinionz; and tWo axle-j y' the combination of a casingl'havingftwo. laterally extending tubes; la driving spin. l5

axisyabevel pinion on the inner end of said spindle; means at the outer end ofsa-idspindle adaptedlthus to'vadjust the same; a

drum rotatably secured to said casing about an aXis alinedwith said tubes; differential f mechanism carried by said drum, said mechanism carried by said drum, said mechanism mcludi'ng a bevel gear adaptedto sections disposed in said tubes and con-v nected at their `inner ends'With said dif; l

` ferentia-l mechanismi ferential mechanism. A

15. In mechanism ofthe classA described,

die infone side of said casing at rightangles to ythe line ofi-said' tubes;. a bevel pinion on the inner end of` said spindle;

ball-bearings.A at therinner and outer ends of said spindle.; an ladjusting nut in said lcasing carrying lthe "bearing at the outer end of said spindle and .adapted to adjust 'saidspindle along therewith; la drum rotatably secured to said casing about an axis al'nedWith said tubesydierential mechanismineludingl a' bevel gear adapted toA mesh with said bevel pinion; Aand tW0- 'axle-sections disposed in said tubes and con? nected at their inner endswith saiddi y,Signed -byvus, this 9th day o`Januar-y,

DE WITT C; .COOKINGHAM- Attested by- I I l 'ANNA L. GILL,

y JNO. F. OBERLIN, 

